Apparatus for the purification of electrolytic gases.



A. 'E. KNOWLES.

APPARATUS FOR THE PURIFICATION OF ELECTROLYTIC GASES.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.19, 1911.

Patented July 22, 1913.

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, Specification of-l'letters Patent.

Patented Jul 22, 1913.

Application filed October 19, 1911. Serial No. GSEsG tE.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EDGAR KNOWLES, a subject of the King'of Great Britain, residing at 112 Tettenhall road,

Vvolverhampton, county of Stafford, Eng

land, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Apparatus for. the Purificatiton of Electrolytic Gases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the same.

-This invention comprises improvements in apparatus for the purification of electrolytic gases and has for its object to enable gas of greater purity to be obtained and further to render working more economical.

The gas may be passed to the purifying apparatus from an ordinary Washer following its production from water by electrolytic action. On its way to the purifier the may be passed through a suitable meter and is led to an explosion trap which will be hereafter more fully described and from that the gas passes to the heating chamber or the purifier proper. In its entry into this chamber the ingoing gas is preheated by the passage around the inlet pipe of the outgoing gas and vapor. The gas then passes through the contact material acting as a catalytic agent instead of over it and the gas and the water vapor, formed by the combination of the gas which is being collected and the one present as an impurity, pass out to a second trap Where the vapor condenses and .is removed, being utilized for making up the liquid seal of the first explosion trap. From' this second explosion trap the purified gas passes away through an outlet pipe to a suitable collector. This purifier is used on each half of the electrolytic plant so that in one case the gas collecped is hydrogen with. oxygen to be dealt with as an impurity and in the other case oxygen iscollected and hydrogen is dealt with as an impurity. I

On the drawings: Figure 1. is a general view of the apparatus. Fig. 2. a plan. Fig. 3. is a section of the first explosion trap. Fig. 4-.. is a sectional plan on line l l of Fig. Fig. 5. is a sectional view of the second trap.

In the general view of the apparatus, Fig. 1, a meter is shown at a, and may be embodied in plants when desired. The lead from the ordinary washer is shown at b and the outlet from the meter at 0. al the first explosion trap, c the lead to the purifier, f

is the purifier, g the outlet, h the second ex plosion trap and 11 the outlet. A

When a meter a is used it maybe of any approved form. The connections to and from the meter are also of any suitable form. @The explosion trap d, Figs. 3 and 4 comprises an outer vessel j with'an inner vessel with a gas inlet Z and outlet m. The gas .lnlet'l 1s carried some distance into the inner vessel and around its orifice a perfo rated diaphragm it is secured in the vessel. The gas outlet'm is preferably taken from the top of the vessel Z; leaving a good space in the vessel between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe. Clear above the diaphragm n I arrange a series of holes 0 in the wall of the vessel is communicating with an envelop or hell 7) around the vessel and from below the envelop withtheouter vessel y. This vessel 70 is suppli'edwith liquid through a suitable connection such as g and the liquid rises through the perforated diaphragm n and seals the orifice of the inlet pipe Z overflowing through the holes 0- to the bell p and outer vessel j where it lorms a'jacket for the inner vessel; 7* is an. overflow from the outer vessel. outlet for any extraordinary back pressure in the outlet pipe m and through. these holes and the liquid in the outer vessel such pres sure is dissipated before the seal of the inlet'orifice is overcome so that a secure explosion trap is provided.

The trap or seal it comprises an inner chamber 4 with a perforated diaphragm therein corresponding with the level of the bottom of the gas inlet See Fig. 5. The

outlet 6 to the pipe 7 is Well above the bottom of the inlet 5 and the water of.co11- den'sation collects in the chamber and rises through the diaphragm to the level of this outlet forming the seal for the inlet 5. The gas outlet is taken from the top of the chamber 4 and thewhole trap is inclosed in an outer vessel in which liquid is main- The holes 0 form the easiest and 2) where it makes up the seal for the gas inlet and also makes up a cooling jacket around the trap.

What I claim then is:

.1. An apparatus for the purification of electrolytic gases comprising a purifying chamber and suitable supply and delivery tion to means, an explosion trap, said trap being having arranged -between the gas supply-and the purifier, a second trap arranged beyond said purifier and means whereby the first trap is sealed by the condensation Water collectedin said second trap, substantially as described. I I

2. An apparatus for the purification of electrolytic gases comprising in combination a purifier With an explosion trap on the inlet side having a sealed inlet, and a trap on the outlet side, a communication from the second of said traps to the first so that condensation Water overflows from the second trap to make up said liquld seal in 3. An apparatus for the purification of electrolytic gases, comprising a gas supply, a purifier, a .gas outlet, a trap between the purifier and thegas supply, and a trap beyond said purifier, the first trap having means between the connection to the gas supply, and its connection to thepurifier for dissipatingback pressure in the latter c011- nection and having a liquid for its connecthe gas supp y and the second trap means for collecting 'the condensed Water vapor caused by the combination of the gases in the said purifier and means leading from said second trap to said first trap so that the condensation Water is conveyed to the first trap and utilized for making up the liquid seal therein.

at. For gas apparatus an improved ex- 'plosion trap having inner and outer vessels,

an inlet carried into the inner vessel and a gas outlet therefrom and means such as a series of holes clear above the orifice of the said gas inlet forming a release for gas pressure, the said inner vessel further having a liquid seal and saicl'outer vessel being supplied with liquid so that it constitutes a liquid. jacket for the said inner vessel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT EDGAR KNOWLES. Witnesses:

F.v G. BRETTELL,

7M. H. BERRIGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedvfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

